Adding integrations to your B2B software is an important strategy. Not just as a platform growth strategy but also to help you customers bring all their existing data from 3rd party softwares they use into yours, adding more value to what they are already doing.
However, when it comes to building integrations in your platform, it is time consuming and costs hundreds of developer hours. This is where Integration platforms come in. And if you have come to this blog, it means you are looking at Workato as a potential platform to power your user-facing integrations on your software platform.
Before you go take the leap and finalize on a solution to use, the smart thing to do is look at their competitors and understand where Workato stands and if you are indeed making the right choice.
Thats what we will aim to do through this blog. We have split this into 3 sections:
- Introduction
- Feature comparison
- Price comparison
This list will also compare Workato to Pathfix Automation, our integration platform that is build for SaaS platforms that are looking for a scalable, yet affordable solution to add integrations.
Introduction
Lets take a quick look at what each of the platforms offer:
Workato
Workato’s primary focus is to automate data flow within an organization to integrate their internal stack. However, Workato has recently created a solution for SaaS integration called Workato Embedded that is essentially their workflow solution wrapped up for B2B integrations.
Pathfix
Pathfix has been specifically built with the purpose of user-facing integrations for SaaS platforms. We have 2 platforms built to solve for this - OAuth platform and Automation platform.
While the OAuth platform manages user authentication across hundreds of 3rd party softwares, the Automation platform handles all the heavy lifting of API calling, data transformation (ETL), Webhooks and much more through its visual workflow based UI.
Paragon
Built for the developer audience, Paragon is an embedded integration platform for SaaS softwares to build user facing native integrations. Since Paragon has been built specifically for the developer audience, this falls under low-code category, rather than no-code.
Tray.io
Tray is one of the leading workflow platform that offers robotic process automation and an integration as a service platform. Originally built for internal data automation, Tray now offers a very specific solution catered directly to the SaaS market for user integration called Tray Embedded.
Cyclr
Cyclr is another SaaS integration platform, like Paragon, it is built on a low-code model. Targeted towards developers, it is also an embedded solution that is built for user facing SaaS integrations.
Feature Comparison
Here is a macro level breakdown of the difference between each of the platforms.
Additionally, you will only be able to access the APIs that are offered by these platform. Meaning, you will not be able to call custom APIs or APIs that are not currently supported by them. This is not the case with Pathfix Automation, as our platform allows you to call any providers APIs directly.
Takeaway: Pathfix has been built for B2B SaaS platform integrations, this is clear in the features and functionality supported. While Tray and Workato are great tools for automation, it is not built for user facing integrations and lack basic functionalities like managed user auth and native integration connections. Paragon and Cyclr on the other hand do not provide the ability to run custom API calls for managed auth providers.
Pricing Comparison
This is where things get a bit complex in the case of most of these platforms. Based on our research (pricing pages, online and through existing customers), no 2 platforms offer the same method of price calculations.
While Pathfix Automation is a straightforward API/task consumption based pricing, the rest have additional feature based pricing, including some platforms charging a “Platform fee”, Per Connected User, Per Integration Connector fee etc.
Definition: Connectors/Adaptors is a term used by most platforms that refers to a 3rd party app integration. For example, if you are looking to add integrations to 6 different CRM platforms (e.g. Hubspot, Salesforece etc.) this will be counted as 6 Connectors.
To simplify and standarize the pricing index between all providers, we have taken the base of 10 endusers with 10 integrations (Connectors).
In addition to the platform and usage pricing, platforms like Tray also charge for services including Enterprise support as well as Professional services (charged additional at $1000 per hour).
Conclusion
For scaling B2B integration needs, Pathfix Automation is a clear winner. Apart from very friendly and clear pricing, it is the only solution that offers custom API calling, ETL, on-premise solution, Webhooks and much more for your user facing integrations.
If you are ready to start your integration journey, sign up or reach out to our support.
